Victim Support service moves closer to home

WAIPA/WAITOMO Victim Support coordinator Janie Wilson (seated) and her team of volunteers will be working out of an office at the Te Awamutu Police Station with the full support of Senior Sergeant David Simes, Sergeant Gael Mockford and police officers of the region. 017081AD

By Dean Taylor

Victims of crime or trauma have help more at hand with the opening of the Waipa/Waitomo District Victim Support office at the Te Awamutu Police Station.

Previously the regional office was in Te Kuiti and was run by longserving co-ordinator Alison Taylor. Her recent retirement presented an opportunity to move the office north to the region’s largest police station and more central to the population it serves.

Waipa/Waitomo Victim Support’s region covers the major towns of Te Awamutu, Otorohanga and Te Kuiti, plus the west coast from Kawhia to Mokau, south to Pio Pio and north to include part of Ohaupo.

New regional coordinator is Janie Wilson, who comes from a background as a diversional therapist and caregiver, mainly working with the elderly and disabled. She is available at the office weekday afternoons, but stresses the Crisis Line is operational 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

Mrs Wilson says the role of Victim Support is an important one within the community. Working closely with police is an integral part of the operation, so she is particularly pleased to have an office in the Te Awamutu Station’s foyer.

Senior Sergeant David Simes says the Victim Support organisation is well respected by police and the community they serve and police are keen to support the work they do in any way they can. He says the close relationship between the two organisations can only become stronger with the opening of the office in town.

Mrs Wilson’s main job is to coordinate the team of volunteers and assign them to cases, but she is also able to deal directly with victims herself, distributes information in the form and letters and pamphlets from her office and is able to refer victims to other helping agencies where appropriate.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The drive is now on to increase volunteer numbers to meet the needs of victims in the region.

Mrs Wilson says the work is demanding at times, but highly rewarding, especially when you know your work makes a difference to someone else’s life.

Full and comprehensive training is available to all staff and volunteers.

She believes the work would particularly suit people with a background in social services of helping agencies, but says with the training on offer that is not a requirement. Anyone who thinks that have the skills, would like to undergo training and wants to help others in the community is welcome to contact Mrs Wilson for more details.

There is information available to illustrate prospective volunteers of the role, as well as a DVD which can be loaned which has proved a valuable tool for recruitment. Training for the next intake of volunteers is over three weekends in March and Victim Support will also be recruiting at the Volunteers Workshop in St John’s Church Hall on Saturday, February 23.

Victim Support has a number of roles helping victims cope with crisis and trauma. Often people just need someone to lend a ear at times of crisis, someone to be with them as they formulate decisions on how they will move forward.

Mrs Wilson says people who benefit from their work include victims of crimes, accidents, sudden death or other traumatic events. Often the referral comes via police, but at times from other agencies or victims can avail themselves of the service by calling into the office or phoning.

As well as being a volunteer, the public can assist by making a donation to Victim Support. Information on the service, being a volunteer or donating can be found on the www.victimsupport.org.nz website. Phone 872 0165 to contact Mrs Wilson in the Te Awamutu office.